AN: Thank you SuperSaiyanFever for your review on FFnet. This chapter is a bit of a doozy again, but here we are. If it comes off as weird by the end I apologize, that would be my problem with my lack of experience building romance from scratch Please R&R!

But all other things shall fade away
While love stands alone and still holds sway
All other things shall fade away
Into the ground, into the grey
-Thrice, Moving Mountains
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The day Ava awoke was a flurry of Fairies examining her, an angry Duck humming and squawking as he shook his head in agitation at her abrupt recovery, Ava realizing her body had gone through a strange transformation, and finally being able to hold her son by the end of it all.

The following day those staying at the Mysterious Tower awoke to the odd surprise of mops running around in a panic as they attempted to clean up overflowing water throughout the Tower in what was later referred to as 'The Cleaning Incident.'

Ava understood right then and there, as Master Yen Sid angrily stared his newly taken abashed Apprentice down, that the old Wizard was someone you did not want to piss off under any circumstances.

King Mickey did not have any concept of what a Sound Idea was and would bring the retired Master nothing but grief.

But, Ava could tell the Mouse's Heart was in the right place.

A full seventy two hours after Awakening she and the Mystic Trio and their little ones said their goodbyes to the old Wizard, the Fairies, and the three denizens of Disney Town as they boarded the train that would return them to their home World.

Aeros and Vale checked in with their Guild while Ruki and Ava immediately went to various stores to pick up formulas to try and feed Sora, having the clear understanding just what complications had occured in the restoring of Ava's body.

Her body had forgotten that there had ever been a child it had carried to now feed.

It had caused Ava grief, to realize she no longer even had a choice in the matter of how to feed her newborn son, while Ruki couldn't help but be (silently) envious of Ava's quick physical recovery. More than a year later and Ruki was still trying to get as close as possible to the state her body had been in before Riku's birth.

Still, Ava bonded with her son, occasionally recalling the strange vision she had experienced while in slumber and meeting Sora's future self.

Thinking about his half missing body, his Heart torn to pieces, and yet still smiling as he couldn't help but feel concern for a 'stranger' despite the state he was in.

She ran her fingers over the bright silver crown she had crafted, smooth and warm with Magic. She took in a deep breath and nodded, thinking of the strong chain that had held it.

It was time to start weaving Blessings of Protection on the Chains that would hold her Hopes within that simple piece of metal.

She was running out of time.

The four friends fell into a new pattern over the course of the next month. Ava returned to blending her teas and crafting her potions, Ruki selling them to various shops or specific clients. Occasionally stopping by the Moogle shop to make weekly orders, and Aeros and Vale having their days spent either assisting the fisherman's Guild, or running the Library.

It was two months after Sora had been born that Ava noticed that something was strange about Aeros.

It had been small things, and at first it seemed natural that he would be around more and more often, even moreso, than he had been before Sora's birth.

But suddenly Ava was struck with the realization that he was mourning.

It had become natural to mark each day on the calendar as they awaited Sora's birth, but now a new marker was being used, crossing off the days as if on a new countdown.

Curiosity got the best of her, and she numbly leafed through the pages until she landed on October 5th.

Six months and seven days after Sora was born, circled in red with a small handwritten note, 'Final Day?'

She stared at the date, her expression blank as she tried to make sense of it. It was a little bit less than four months away, but what did it mean..?

A cold ache settled in her chest, unconscious tears building in her eyes as she wondered deliriously.

Is this all the time I have left?

She sat down at the kitchen table, setting the calendar down as her hands shook and the blood drained from her face and her breath left her lungs. She suddenly felt grateful that Ruki had opted to give her a day to herself and watch over Sora and Riku as Aeros and Vale worked.

How had Aeros come to this knowledge? Ava cupped her face as she felt fear and sorrow in equal measure run through her. She clenched her eyes and grit her teeth as she bent over herself, a sob leaving her at the thought of leaving her son.

She lost track of time, attempting to calm herself and look away from the calendar, but could hardly leave the room long enough before she simply circled back and stared at the damning sentence placed upon her.

She dimly heard the door open as Aeros came in, her dull eyes red and glossy from crying as she looked at him devastated. He paused as he noticed her expression, "...What's wrong, Ava?"

She stared at him a moment before looking down at the calendar and shakily asked, "What is this..?"

Aeros cautiously stepped closer to her until he caught sight of what lay in front of her, a fleeting look of misery flashed across his face before turning into despondent melancholy, "I… should have told you." He began to move again, walking over to and sitting at the kitchen table as she slowly lowered herself into her own chair as she stared at him in betrayal.

"You knew something, and didn't tell me?" Her fear was palpable. This was probably the first time he'd gone and truly hurt her, while having no intention of doing so.

Aeros took a deep breath as he cautiously took one of her hands in his, "I… The day you came back to us after those seven days from hell… A man appeared in your room from a Dark Portal."

This caused Ava to become rapt with attention, pursing her lips as she began to dissect the scenario he was laying.

The brunette licked his lips nervously, "He said it'd been a rather... Long time since you'd last met… and he knew your name."

Ava slowly gripped his hand, a frown settling on her face as her eyes became sharper.

"He… said he was returning you to your Master's... save point, and that you'd have six months until you were forcibly taken away, and that he'd enjoy seeing your struggle."

Ava's other hand laid upon his in a sure grip, shocking him as he looked her in the eyes. They were still red from her day of crying, but they held a deep and burning determination, almost glowing as the sun began its descent into sunset outside.

"It was Luxu. It had to have been."

He blinked before furrowing his brow, "Someone you knew?"

Ava stared at him for a long moment, silent until she breathed and looked away tiredly, "You once asked if I had ever loved anyone before."

Aeros nodded, a terrible feeling pooling in his gut.

"I told you about Gula… but, I did not want to talk about Luxu. He… was also someone dear to me. I am more filled with Greed than I care to realize. I loved both Gula and Luxu equally, yet I cannot say for sure if that love was romantic or not. Nonetheless, I kept quiet about Luxu...because of my last conversation with him."

Aeros nodded slowly, allowing Ava to continue.

She swallowed, the painful memory of the ringing of the Clocktower's Bell echoing painfully in her mind as the clashing of their Keyblades reverberated down her arms in a phantom memory, "The morning of the beginning of the Keyblade War, I had gone to confront Luxu on just what his Role was that had been given to him by our Master."

Ava's golden eyes met his blue, bright with conviction and anger, "His answer… I could not agree with it. But as was Foretold our fight was broken off, and I headed to that barren wasteland that became the Graveyard of many, many Children."

Ava dropped her gaze in shame, "The Master… I met him in my Heart while I was Asleep."

Aeros sharply inhaled at the abrupt change in conversation as his hands gripped hers, "Your- Your Master?!"

She nodded with a cringe deeply set on her face, "I think you were right about him being a creep. He- he did do something to us. Something that… I am unsure will ever be forgivable. But… he mentioned something just before I Woke up. He said… that I'd get a redo with a little help." She closed her eyes, "I guess it was Luxu who was the executor of that help."

Aeros bowed his head and stared at their entwined hands. "I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner. I was just… so relieved that you were awake, that I didn't want to ruin your joy in finally being able to hold Sora for the first time…"

He heard her inhale before he glanced up at her face, only to realize she was smiling at him sadly, "I understand. It's not like I hadn't been keeping something from you myself."

The brunette still felt guilty about it, leaning back in his chair as he slowly released her hands and placed them on his knees, "Would you... forgive me?"

Ava's eyes widened before she nodded, "I forgive you, Aeros. Would you also forgive me?"

He nodded, "Yes."

A smile warmed her face as she stood, "Then that's that." She extended her hand to him, "Let's go for a walk."

He blinked before taking her hand and standing, allowing her to pull him along at her leisure as he slowly began to walk in time next to her.

They made their way to the beach before walking and in hand around the perimeter of the Island they called Home. Enjoying each other's presence as the warm summer breeze caressed them. Eventually they reached an un-urbanized area of the sandy shore, the sea stretching as far as the eye could see as Ava slowed to a stop as she stared at the glittering sunset.

Aeros paused alongside her and looked down to her in confusion, "What is it?"

Ava stood, silent and still as she slowly turned to him. "I have brought you incredible pain, Aeros."

He sucked in a breath to refute her, but she raised a hand, and he breathed out and kept silent.

She turned to him more fully, her black hair occasionally obscuring her face as her eyes glowed gold in the setting sunlight, "We have exchanged Vows, and tied our Souls with the exchange of paopu fruit… But… while you have given me your whole Heart… I have not given Mine."

He stood captivated, emotion building in his chest as he tried to digest her words. He had accepted that her Time would continue to misalign with his... the minute she disappeared she would continue onwards into the Future, and he would be left behind.

Ava gripped the hand she still held before looking down to it, turning it slightly as she lifted her left to place something silver and shining as she slid it onto his ring finger. It was warm, Magic imbued metal glistened at him, an engraving of a fox wrapped around the simple band as if to catch its own tail. He stared at it for a long moment as she held his hand in both of hers, her head tilted downwards, "It may never be written on paper… But I will be your Wife. My remaining Time with you grows short, but if you will have no Other, then neither will I." She turned his hand over and placed a smaller ring into his palm as she looked up to him, "I shall take you as my Husband, until either the Stars fade and all the Worlds turn to Nothing, or I breathe my last." She took in a breath, "I love you, Aeros."

Aeros felt the air leave him in a sob, closing his eyes and fist as he held the ring in the palm of his hand before nodding. He opened his eyes and gasped, trying to reign in his frazzled emotions as he trembled and took her left hand, placing the ring she had given him on her finger. The silver band was simple with a bright blue gem embedded in it with star-like shapes engraved on either side.

Aeros swallowed as he stared at her now banded finger, gently squeezing her hand before meeting her gaze once more, "I love you, Ava."

In his eyes, her smile was brighter than the sun.